As a sidenote (reading about the best socks ever) I once found some that were perhaps a runner-up - socks with, knitted in, "Dear Santa ... I Can Explain". Bought them for several friends and my sister ... somehow neglected to get my own pair. sigh ....

Glad you like the socks, Suzi. I can't resist a good pair of Xmas socks, and found several this year that needed good homes.

My finances have been extremely tight this year, so I've had to keep non-essential spending to a minimum. However, the B&N down the street from my office is closing and just about everything's drastically reduced, so I bought myself a present. A sonic screwdriver. It lights up and makes noises. Unfortunately, it doesn't do anything terribly useful, but I'm having fun with it.

Fun is useful!

Todd, I've been so busy lately that I totally forgot about the B&N. It's probably cleaned out by now, so I regret missing my opportunity but I'm glad you found something you like.

The problem with sonic screwdrivers for me would be deciding which one I prefer.

Which Doctor does yours represent?

Msbelle, thank you so much for the iTunes gift card! I'll have loads of fun choosing music.

Bonny, oh, Bonny! I picked up your package today and before I finished reading the card I was in tears. Thank you for sharing such a precious gift with me. For those of you who haven't seen them yet, I posted a picture on Facebook [link] of the beautiful armwarmers and headband Bonny made with buttons from her grandfather's Navy uniform from WWII. I'm still tearing up just thinking about them. I am so honored you would share those with me. Thank you.

But not just that! I received Captain America playing cards in a collectible tin, a tea sampler, a hypertrochoid art set (basically a Spyrograph set for grown-ups, which I can't wait to try) and a number of single-shot comics from various fandoms, which will go to the top of my reading pile.

Thank you so much for such a thoughtfully chosen set of secret santa gifts, Bonny, they rock my world.

And, I also have to thank ms_belle for the iTunes card! I'm looking forward to adding new music to my collection!

Oh Sail, I am so pleased that you are pleased.

You have always spoken with such pride about your service. As soon as I drew your name, I knew I wanted to honor that somehow.

Both my grandfather and great-grandfather loved the Navy. My grandfather earned 'distinction for bringing honor to his ship through theater wide track field events.'

Who knew such a thing was possible?

He was shipped from fleet to fleet, competing (and apparently wiping up the deck with) his peers. The rest of the time, he was a ship's electrician.

Those buttons have such gravity and great meaning to me. I'm glad you have them now.

I have some more teas I need to send you. I apologize. I wanted so much to get your package to the post in time for pre-xmas delivery that I left them out.

I hope the books are interesting. The only one I recognized was the Captain America one, thus the playing card tie-in. I figured obscure would be more fun.

Please let me know if the hypertrochoid is fun. I was mad-crazy for Spirograph when I was younger so that just called to me!

Enjoy! And blessings for a lovely new year.

Folks, I have been coveting a salt lamp for years.

Strix, my secret santa fixed me up well and good with an absolutely gorgeous lamp that is bigger and brighter than I could ever hope for.

It has a dimmer!

I tried so hard to capture the incredible glow...it's transfixing, yo...but it can't be contained by photographic technology.

Thank you Strix! And for the coloring book and note pad, mirror and wee flag.

I cannot even get over this gorgeous lamp. Rocks are my weakness, salt is what I live for and this beautiful colored light is so, so warming.

Darlings, when you give one another so much love, you also grant me such a gift of joy.

Oh, yay, bonny, I am SO pleased you are...so pleased!!

:)